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Random musings about the return of pro sports, seniors who lost a season & Michael Aulds

Random musings from a befuddled mind seeing a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.

Actual live and competitive professional sports were on television Sunday. It was exhilarating to a degree.

For the first time in more than a decade, I watched a NASCAR race, flipping channels between it and the skins golf match between the team of Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson versus Rickie Fowler and Matthew Wolff.

These were the two sports that made the most sense to return first. Many fans wonder why the PGA and NASCAR suspended competition at all. These are sports that can be conducted with social distancing.

I’m a casual golf fan who typically only watches the majors and the Ryder Cup. I’m not an auto racing fan at all. I respect the sport and understand the appeal, but it’s never something I want to watch.

That was different Sunday. I watched more of the Darlington race than I did the golf match. I’ve missed competition. The drivers weren’t just racing for charity. I appreciate the meaning of what the high-profile foursome played for in the TaylorMade Driving Relief match at Seminole Golf Club in Florida. But it lacked the intensity of a big tournament.

Regardless, it was great to be able to flip through the channels and find live sports. The NBA and MLB are formulating promising plans to return to competition this summer. The NFL’s outlook is positive.

College football is the major sport facing the most uncertainty. It has the most hurdles to overcome. It may be a situation where some high-profile universities don’t return to competition in the fall. If in-person classes aren’t in session, then sports won’t be conducted at a university. It’s not out of the question an entire conference sits out the season.

But that’s several months away. For now, let’s enjoy a weekend with live sports. I hope that green flag at Darlington marked the start of the return to normalcy – not just in sports but in every aspect of quality life.

May 17, 2020, Darlington, SC, USA; The name of Cindy Sheets covers the name of driver Clint Bowyer before the NASCAR Cup Series auto race Sunday, May 17, 2020, in Darlington, S.C. The names of health care workers across the country have been substituted for the drivers' name above the door on each of the 40 cars. Brynn Anderson, Pool Photo-USA TODAY NETWORK

May 17, 2020, Darlington, SC, USA; The name of Dr. Sarah Nickoloff covers the name of driver Matt Kenseth as Kenseth prepares for the NASCAR Cup Series auto race Sunday, May 17, 2020, in Darlington, S.C. The names of health care workers across the country have been substituted for the drivers' name above the door on each of the 40 cars. Brynn Anderson, Pool Photo-USA TODAY NETWORK

May 17, 2020; Darlington, South Carolina, USA; From left, Justin Balczo of Raleigh, NC, and Katelyn Kearns and her husband Myles Kearns, both of Durham, NC, eat at Original Raceway Grill next to Darlington Raceway. The three race fans traveled to Darlington to be near the race. Jeff Blake, Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports

Kelly Floyd of Clarendon County, watches the Real Heroes 400 at Darlington Raceway Sunday, May 17, 2020, the first race since the season was postponed due to the coronavirus epidemic. MATT BURKHARTT/Staff

► The return of professional sports doesn’t make up for the college and high school seasons lost to this pandemic.

The UIL state track meet would have been conducted May 8-9. The boys state golf tournament was scheduled for last week with the girls state tourney teeing off Monday. State tennis was set to start Thursday.

Softball teams would be prepping for the regional semifinals and baseball the regional quarterfinals this week.

I’ve been specifically thinking about the talented senior class of softball players. I remember many of those girls impressing us as freshmen.

Graham pitcher Emma Southerland, Burkburnett pitcher Jocelyn Bright, Vernon shortstop Caroline Taylor and Petrolia catcher Raeley Mataska were all members of the 2017 Red River Diamond Dozen team as freshmen. Mataska was Newcomer of the Year.

Southerland and Bright, whose pitching duels had been highlights the previous three seasons, are bidding for their fourth straight Diamond Dozen appearance this month.

This senior class gave many area teams hopes of making at least a deep playoff run. The softball state tournament is an event I always booked a hotel room in Austin for well in advance. The Wichita Falls area is consistently represented there.